Baltimore. Internet photo.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
We had been under the impression that there is no law against placing a cone or other object at the curb to save a parking space. This issue comes up every summer and during every serious snowfall. Of course, no one has the right to save a space, so anyone could come along, remove the cone, and pull right in. Only a few, however, would have the nerve to do that, for a variety of reasons. We also have been under the impression that the police would not care about this issue and would not likely respond to such a complaint.
So, while at a recent OG social event, I discovered that some citizens were disagreeing about this issue, and they asked me. I offered my usual opinion, but I promised to check with the NTPD.
Today I spoke to Lt. Michael Zarro who is the Traffic Officer for NTPD. He said that saving a space with an object in the road was a violation. Nothing is allowed in the road except the usual suspects—vehicles (parked or moving.) And that evidently applies to cones or garbage pails at the curb placed there for reasons other than the legitimate ones, such as a crater pothole, construction, or a pail full of garbage waiting for the trash men.
But enough trash talk…..Lt. Zarro said that his officers will respond if someone calls with a complaint. They will remove the object and they may actually place it into custody, so don’t use your wife to save a space. I gather that they may not intervene if no one complains, but I wouldn’t count on it. It looks like our understanding on this was wrong.
Of course, we know that Grovers are very creative about saving spaces through the innovative spacing of their vehicles. That is not against the law.
We did have a Blogfinger conversation about this subject in 2013, and there are some very good comments (35 responses) to read in order to get some insight about your neighbors. During that discussion some did say that conification of parking spaces is illegal. A BF poll in 2015 found that 70% of respondents thought it was OK to save a space.
So if you decide to create a cone zone in front of your house, you may have an issue that you were not anticipating and you may have to face the music. And if you want to speak to Lt. Zarro, he invites you to call him at 732 988 8000, ext 433. (This is still the number to call the current 2026 traffic officer.
Saving a space discussion 2013 BF
VINCE GIORDANO AND THE NIGHTHAWKS: “Let’s Face the Music.” From their album Cheek to Cheek
No, Joe, it’s not just a choice, it’s common decency and an ounce of respect for a neighbor. Unfortunately, those are two traits that seem to have been lost in Ocean Grove.
Your choice to pay someone else to dig out a spot is just that, a choice. It’s a public road, anyone has the right to park anywhere. It’s not your spot and you aren’t entitled to any specific section of asphalt
The only time saving a spot with a cone is ethical is when the moving van is coming.
Wisher: There are many people in Ocean Grove who cannot bring themselves to engage in conification to save parking spaces; not because they believe the practice to be illegal, but just out of a sense of ethics that they must abide.
It is tempting to try it when parking becomes a really oppressive experience. And one can rationalize it as a form of justice denied for those who actually live in this town, and I am sympathetic to that attitude. However, personally I don’t like the practice, and I resent it when neighbors sometimes ask me to be a collaborator
But now we know for certain that conification of parking spaces is against the law. And as for the other trickery used to save spaces, people will have to consult their own sense of values. —-Paul @Blogfinger
If Neptune, Ocean Grove, or the NTPD, really wanted to enforce this, they could write tickets daily on Main Avenue, at the first two beach blocks. Clearly they are happy to just look the other way.
No one is as frustrated as I at the parking situation. But, there is something about my perspective that rejects deception, and finds these false reservations off-putting. A cone, a sign; it speaks of some harm to one who is legally entitled to park where I don’t want them to.
But we are a society of laws, grace and comfort to the law-abiding. And I don’t want to deter an earnest and eager driver to labor under the false pretense that they are not legally entitled to park where they are entitled.
So to me, as maddened as parking is, I want to give comfort to those obeying the law. I just can’t do it.
My only comment is that I paid $150 to have my car dug out of the snow and the corresponding sidewalk shoveled (per Township rules). If I can’t mark/save that space while I am at work, it does not seem right that someone else can pull into the space I paid for.
I’ll call ahead to the police and advise them during the next snowstorm.